Spring oiler



Apr. 24, 1923.

C. R. SIGWALT SPRING OILER Filed June 28, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet l WITNESS:

n -INVENToR- UZQZECE@ A TTORNEYS Apr. 24, 1923. 1,452,852

c. R. slGwALr sms@ amsn Filedjaune 2a. 1920 v- 2 sheets-snm' 2v WITNSS.- Y

7. Uzmycezwywazf y Y BY I n ATTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 24, 1923.

UNITED STATES CLARENCE R. vSIGW'ALT,

Appucation med rune 2s,

'tomobiles The principal object of the invention is to effect a more efficient oiling of a spring by lubricating means located in an improved position. A further object is to provide an oiling device which discharges oil automatically, due to the movements of the spring. Still another object is to provide a leaf spring in combination with a Supporting member rigidly secured thereto and diverging therefrom, and having means for applying oil to the spring adjacent the point of divergence, whereby the oil flows over the parts to be lubricated. A further feature is the provision of a resilient oiling device adapted to discharge oil on compression of the'spring, and to assume its normal position when the spring is released. Other fobjects relate to various features of construction and arrangement which will appear more clearly hereinafter.

The nature of the invention will be understood from the following specification, taken with the accompanying drawings, in which one use and one embodiment are illusytrated.

In the drawings- Figure 1 shows a plan view of the sheet metal blank upon which the oil-absorbent material is mounted; y

Fig. 2 shows a side elevation of the sheet metal blank after it has been bent into position for holding the oil-absorbent material;

,Figa 3 shows a side elevation of the sheet metal blank after the oil-absorbent material has been applied thereto;

Fig. 4 shows atransverse longitudinal section through the completed oiler;

` Fig. 5 shows a front elevation of a Ford automobile, illustrating the application thereto of the improved oiler, a part of the front transverse frame member being broken away; 1 Fig. 6 shows an enlarged transverse sec- OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

1920. Serial No. 392,167.

tion through the supporting channel member which seats on the spring, illustrating the position of the oiling device between the channel and the spring; and

Fig. 7 shows a transverse section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6. f

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings is formed by mounting oil-absorbent material on a resilient sheet metal holder. This holder 10 is formed from a sheet metal blank having the form illustrated in Fig. 1. This blank is stamped from a metal sheet with teeth or serrations 11 along its ends, a pair of fold lines 12 located inwardly from each end of the blank and a pair of U-shaped tongues 13 located inwardly from the fold lines. A crimp 14 is formed in the sheet metal blank midway between its ends. After this blank has been formed, the ends are bent upwardly and inwardly, as shown in Fig. 2, to form end. walls 15 and inwardlyvdirected end flanges 16. A sheet of comparatively thick felt or other oil-absorbent material 18 is then placed around the holder 10, as illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, with the ends of the felt seated in the recesses beneath the end flanges 16. The serrations 11 will engage the felt and hold it rmly in position. After mounting the felt on the holder in the manner illustrated in Fig. 2, the tongues 13 are bent upwardly toward the ends of the holder, as illustrated in Fig. 3, in order to secure the ends of the felt more firmly in position, The sheet of felt is somewhat wider than the metal holder 10, so that it projects on opposite sides thereof, and it is held securely on the holder by means ofthe flanges 16 and tongues 18 as well as the crimp 14, which forms a depression in the central part of the felt. After the parts have been assembled in the manner justr described, the holder and felt are bent transversely about the central crimp 14,l as illustrated by the dotted line-s 19 inFig. 3, thus forming the completed V-shaped oiling device 20, having the form illustrated in Fig. 4. When in use this holder is adapted to be compressed by the normal operation of the spring, so that it intermittently assumes the position illustrated by the dotted lines 21.

Although this improved oiler `may .be applied to different uses, ity is' particularly adapted for oiling the springs-of a4 Ford automobile, and this improved` location of the oiler constitutes a part of the present invention. An 'automobile of this type is illustrated in Fig. 5, and comprises the usual front axle 25, front wheels 26, steering knuckles 27, radiator 2S, and the body-supporting channel or frame member 29. The leaf spring 30 is mounted within the inverted channel 29 beneath the central part of the radiator, and the ends of the channel are directed upwardly, as shown at 29, directly above the end portions of the spring. The spring is secured in position within thek channel by the U-shaped bolts 31 and nuts 32, and the leaves of the spring are secured together, outwardly from the fixed connection with the channel 29, by the usual spring` clips 33. The links 34k pivotally connect the ends of the spring to the springhangers 35 carried by the axle 25. The upward inclination of the end portions of the supporting frame member 29 leaves a V-shaped opening 3G between the upper leaf 3T of the spring and the upper vall 38 of the channel, as shown particularly in Figs. 5 and 6. The V-shaped oiler 20 is inserted into this opening with one arm engaging the wall 3S of the channel and with the other arm thereof resting on the spring. The felt 18 of the oiler is not only wider than the sheet metal holder 10, but is slightly wider than the space 39 between the side walls or flanges of the channel, so that the oiler is adapted to wedge into the V -shaped opening;` 36 between the diverging spring and frame member, as illustrated in Fig. T. This wedging of the felt is suiiicient to hold the oiler in place, but the frictional engagement of the felt on the side walls of the channel is supplemented by the pressure of the divergent outer walls of the oiler on the channel and the spring, due to the resilience of the holder 10. One of the holders 20 is mounted on each side of the center of the spring, and these oilers may be mounted in a similar manner on the spring at the rear of the car.

Then the spring is bent downwardly during the travel of the car, the en d portions of the spring flatten out and thus reduce the V-shaped openings 36, so that the oilers 2() are compressed, as illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 4. This compression of the Oilers, which have `been saturated with lubricating` oil, causes the oil to flow from the felt on to the upper leaf of the spring, and it then flows down the incline of the spring` toward each end thereof, resulting in a thorough lubrication of all of the leaves of the springs from the center thereof down to the hangers at opposite ends. It may be advantageous to. constructthe oiler so that the `inturned ends will con-tact with eachother when the device is compressed. The degree of the lubrication is thus proportional to fthe efiftentV of usage ofl 'the springs, and `the lubrication is automatically maintained.

The Oilers can be readily removed from their positions on the springs to permit the resaturation thereof with oil.

Although l have shown and described one use and'one embodiment of the invention for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that it may be constructed and used in various other ways without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

l claim l. The combination in an automobile of a transverse frame member, a spring rigidly connected to the under side of a part of said member and diverging therefrom, andmeans for oiling said spring on the upper surface thereof beneath said frame member adjacent the point of connection of said spring and said member.

2. The combination in an automobile of a channel frame member extending transversely of the automobile and having its flanges directed downwardly, a leaf spring having an intermediate portion thereof seated within the channel of said frame member and rigidly connected thereto, the end portions of said spring being inclined downwardly, and means for applying oil to the upper surface of said spring beneath said frame member and between the flanges thereof on each side of the point of connection of said spring with said frame member.

8. The combination in an automobile of a fra-me member, a leaf spring rigidly connected to the under side of a part of said member and diverging therefrom, and an oil absorbent material wedged between said member and said spring adjacent the point of divergence.

l. The combination in an automobile of a channel frame member extending transversely of the automobile and having its iianges directed downwardly, a leaf spring having an intermediate portion thereof seated within the channel of said frame member and rigidly connected thereto, the end portions of said spring being inclined downwardly, and oil containing devices mounted between the flanges of said channel frame member on each side of the point of conf nection of said channel frame member with said spring.

5. ln combination, a spring, a member secured to said spring and diverging. therefrom, and oil-absorbent means held between said member and said spring adjacent the point of divergence by frictional engage'- ment therewith.

G. ln combination', a spring, a member secured to said springand diverging there-- from, and a resilient oil-absorbent device mounted between said spring and said mem'- ber adjacent the point of divergence.

7. ln combination, a. spring, a supportingmember of channel form seated "over said spring and diverging therefrom, and an oiling device mounted between the side walls of said channel adjacent the point of divergence of said spring and said member.

8. In combination, a spring, a supporting member of channel form seated over said spring and diverging therefrom, and a V-shaped oil-absorbentdevice engaging the side walls of said channel and contacting with the divergent surfaces of said channel and said spring.

9. In combination, a spring comprising a plurality of superimposed leaves decreassaid spring and diverging therefrom, and a seating over the central part of said spring and secured thereto, the end portions of said channel member diverging upwardly from said spring, serted in the divergent spaces between said channel member and said spring and adapted to be compressed by said member and saidA spring.

10. The combination in an oiling device of a V-shaped resilient holder and a sheet of oil absorbent material extending around and secured to said holder.

11. The combination in an oiling device of a V-shaped sheet metal holder and a sheet of oil absorbent material extending over said holder and having an interlocking connection with the ends thereof.

12. The combination'in an oiling device of a sheet metal holder in V-shaped form and a. sheet of oil-absorbent material extending around the o uter side of said V-shaped holder and overlapping the end portions thereof.

13. The combination in an oiling device of a sheet metal holder in V-shaped form and a sheet of oil-absorbent material extending around the outer side of said V- shaped holder and overlapping the end porand oil-absorbent devices in- 15.- The combination in an oiling device of a sheet/metal holder having transversely directed end flanges, a sheet of oil-absorbent material extending around said holder and having the end portions vthereof interlocked with said end flanges, and tongues extending from said holder to maintain said oilabsorbent material in engagement with said end anges. n

16. In combination, a spring, a supporting member seated on said spring and diverging therefrom, and means mounted adjacent the point of divergence of said spring and said member for supplying oil to said spring. Y

17. In combination, a spring having a plurality of leaves, a supporting member seated on the upper side of and secured to said spring, said spring diverging from said supporting member and inclining downwardly from the point of Connection therewith, and means mounted adjacent the point .of divergence of said spring and said member for supplying oil to the upper part of said spring whereby the oil runs downwardly along said spring and lubricates said leaves.

In testimony whereof, I have subscribed my name.

CLARENCE R. SIGWALT. 

